Shower stall subdrainer



Oct. 20, 1942. B. svlRsKY I 2,299,705

SHOWER ST-ALL SUB-DRAINER Filed Set. 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l oct. 2o, 1,942. B. sviRsKY 2,299,705

SHOWER STALL SUB-DRAINER Filed Sept. 23, 1941 2 SheebS-SheelI 2 Arrak/wsx Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOWER STALL SUBDRAINER Bennett Svirsky, Glendale, Calif., assigner ofy onehalf to Charles W. Sievert 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a sub-drainer structure for shower stalls.

Among the Objects of the invention are: to provide a device of the kind stated which can beinstalled in amore expeditious manner and at the same time in such a way as to safeguard against dirt or refuse of any kind falling into the drain outlet when the liquid impervious sheet material is put in place andthe tar applied thereto to make a liquid-tight connection with the iitting and also while the cement oor is being put in place; to provide, as a new article of manufacture an improved segmental clamping plate structure whereby the liquid impervious material is held inV place upon the sub-floor preparatory to laying the cement thereover; to provide, in a sub-drainer structure, of the choice of using either an expansible or non-expansible test plug to close the piping system preparatory to testing for leaks and to provide improved means for putting such plugs in place; to provide improved means for eliminating removal and replacement of conventional parts located at the inlet portion of the device, and to improve upon various structural details of the kind of devices to which the invention pertains as will hereinafter appear.

More speciiically speaking'the invention pertains, among other things, to the combination,

with a tubular outlet structure having through a it radial passages to conduct moisture from freshly laid cement; of improved means to clamp down` upon and seal against leakage the liquid impervious material, and yet leave drainage passages which permit the liquid from the moist cement to drain through the tting. Also to provide improved means for attaching the clamping part to the sub-drainer structure.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the device, approximately the lower half of the central portion of the view having its upper portionbroken away in order to disclose sectioned underlying structure, the floor structure being omitted.

Fig, 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional .detail taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l, illustrating a drainage feature for allowing moisture to drain from the newly laid cement into the sewer.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of an alternative ITV embodiment of the invention, approximately the lower half of the central portion of the view having its upper portion broken away to disclose underlying structure, portions of which are sec,- tioned.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig. 2 is shown a section of the oor structure of a shower stall wherein a sub-floor I) has through it an opening II within which is located a subdrainage iitting I2 which is supported from an upstanding sewer pipe section I3 by means of-a nipple Iii, the lower end of which is screwed into said pipe section I3, and the upper 'end portion of which is screwed into the lower part of the downwardly directed annular liange I5 with which said drainage iitting I2 is centrally provided. Immediately above the screwed-in: nipple I4 said annular ange I5 is provided with an internal, unthreaded, circumferential channel I '5, and above said channel said flange I5 isagain internally threaded for la purpose which will appear later.

Said drainage fitting I2 isv also centrally provided with an upstanding, internally screwthreaded tubular iiange 2B into which screws an upper nipple 2l, the latter nipple having screwed onto its upper end a convention drain section 22. The upper annular flange or tubular part 2E) is of larger internal diameter than the lower annular flange or tubular part I5, hence'l the nipple 2I which screws into said upperflange may be of suliciently large internal diameter to permit admission of the test plug 2t for screwing into the position shown. Furthermore, when the plumber desires to use an expansible elastic plug instead of a metallic plug, he may fit it within and expand' it against the smooth internal face of the nipple I-i. In Fig. 2 said drain section is shown provided with an imperforate cover disc 23 which is attached or held in place upon the drain section 22 by means of a screw 2li that screws into the shank 25 of the test plug 26, said plug having an externally screw threaded skirt 25a, said skirt being screwed into the upper part of the aforesaid downwardly .directed tubular portion I5 of the drainage fitting I2 when it is desired to 'test the piping tnerebelow for leaks.

A plurality of layers of liquid impervious paper Si] is shown overlying the floor I0 and underlying the cement body 2i). Said layers may consist of tar paper which extends over the upper face of the horizontal portion SI of the drainage fitting I2. Said layers are furnished with an opening 33a the edge of which is located circumjacent to, but slightly spaced from, the annular upstanding flange 23. The horizontal part 3| of said drainage iitting is shown furnished with an upwardly inclined peripheral portion 33, thus giving said member a .dish-like appearance to collect the moisture and at the same time, avoiding the necessity of abruptly bending the paper 3U where it crosses the periphery of said drainage fitting.

In order to clamp the laminated paper firmly down upon the upper surface of the horizontal portion 3| of the drainage fitting I2, said fitting has cast into or otherwise secured thereto a series of upstanding threaded studs 35 which project upwardly through the portion of the paper adjacent to its aforesaid opening, said studs also projecting through the annular retaining member which consists of a plurality of segmental plates 36, clamping nuts 31 screwing onto said studs and serving to hold said plates in a clamped contact with said paper. Downwardly projecting bosses 34 are provided to afford a better anchorage for said studs, which are cast integral with the flange 3| when the tting is molded.

Said plates 36, more specifically speaking, may be said to comprise a pair of twin flat plates each forming a semi-circular segment of an annulus. Each of said plates has its end edges 33a beveled in respect to the thickness of the plate, the bevel at one end of each plate being inclined oppositely to that at the opposite end thereof, whereby when said plates are assembled they form a complete annulus, a channel triangular in cross section being formed between abutting plate ends. Said plates have apertures through them to receive the studs 35, the apertures of one plate corresponding in their positions to the positions of the apertures of the other plate thereby to provide for reversibility of the positions of the attached plates.

Within the basal portion of its opstanding flange 2i! the drainage tting I2 is provided with an internal circumferential channel 33 and a plurality of inclined drainage passages 39 lead through the ange 20 into said channel. Hence moisture in the cement may readily pass between the end portions of said plates 35 and flow through the aforesaid passages 39 down into the sewer, it being understood that the test plug 23 is only temporarily inserted. As shown, each of said inclined passages 39 passes through the basal portion of a plurality of lugs 4U, which serve as a tool-hold for a wrench when the fitting I2 is screwed down onto the nipple I4. Each of the segmental plates 36 is beveled at 33?) along its inner edge against which said lugs 43 abut. when said plates are in their operative positions.

In the upper portion of the drain section 22 are shown diametrically opposite internal lugs 45, screws 43 being shown in these lugs so as to be conveniently accessible for attaching thereto the conventional strainer plate 41 (see Fig. 4).

Upon the upper surface of the cement body 29 is shown a tile floor 50.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the structure illustrated in ythese views is for the most part the same as that already described and like parts thereof are provided with like reference numerals. The subdrainer |2a is, however, different in some respects. -The upwardly directed tubular portion 20 thereof is of the same internal diameter as the downwardly directed tubular portion I5 of the iitting. Said tubular portion 20 likewise has screwed onto its upper end the drain section 22,

the latter being furnished with a conventional cover 41 attached by screws 45. The segmental plate sections 36 are constructed and attached in the manner that has already been described, their end portions being likewise beveled to provide drainage passages between them.

Between the threaded portions of the tubular parts I5 and 23 and opposite to the horizontal flange 3|, the fitting |20. is provided with an internal circumferential channel Ia and a plurality of downwardly inclined drainage passages 39 leading through the tubular portion 2U, the lower edges of the cuter end of said passages being flush with the upper face of the horizontal flange 3|. Said passages are formed in the basal portion of the lugs 40 and are shielded from being obstructed by the cement 23 while it is still in a plastic condition, by reason of the segmental plates 36 guarding the outer ends of said passages. Said plates 3S have the same clamping function '1n regard to the tar paper 3l) as has already been described, being held down by the nuts 31 screwed onto the studs 35, downwardly projecting bosses 34 being provided to afford better anchorage for said studs which are cast integral with the flange 3| when the litting is molded.

This alternate embodiment differs further from the preferred embodiment already described in that it is adapted to have inserted into the pipe section I4 an expansible plug of the type shown and described in my co-pending application entitled Pipe plugs, Ser. No. 391,891; filed May 5, 1941. Since said expansible plug together with the solid cover plate 23, drain plate 41, and the operation of installing the expansible test plug and the removal of the solid cover plate 23 and subsequent application of the drain plate 41, having been fully set forth and claimed in the above co-pending application, no further description of these parts and of the operation pertaining to them will be necessary. Obviously the screw 24 of Fig. 2 will have to be made long enough to reach the expansible test plug in its installed position, as aforesaid.

IThe steps for constructing the oor portions of the drain are taken in the same order and in the same manner as already described in speaking of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Describing briefly the steps to be taken in constructing the illustrated embodiment of the in- Vention, after the sub-floor is laid and the opening I I is formed therein, the plumber installs the drainage fitting I2 in position as shown in the opening II, and by means of a suitable tool engaging the lugs 43, said fitting is screwed onto the nipple I4 which has been previously screwed into the drainage fitting I3. The nipple 2| is then screwed into the mouth portion of the tubular upstanding flange 23 of the drainage tting, after which the drain section 22 is applied. The test plug 25 is then installed with its threaded skirt 26a screwed into place as shown. Thereupon the imperforate cover plate 23 is applied by means of the screw 24 screwed into the shank 25 of said test plug.

The mechanic whol lays the tar paper next installs the layers 33 of liquid-proof paper and tars them in place in a leak proof manner in connection with the studs 35 and the pan portion of the drainage fitting. Incident to the laying o f the tar paper the machanic will first remove the nuts 31 and the plate sections 36, said nuts having been previously applied to the studs 35 for maintaining them conventionally accessible to the metion to the water proof covering 30.

.the top of said fitting.

chanic. After laying the paper the mechanic will replace the segmental plates 35 and will re-apply the nuts 3l to the studs 35, thus securing the segmental annulus in place in a clamped down rela- It will be observed that if said annular member were made in one piece, it could notbe put in place without rst removing the conventional drain fitting 22 screwed onto the upper portion of the nipple 2|, for the diameter of the space enclosed by said annulus is necessarily less than the diameter of Such removal of the fitting 22 together with its cover plate 23 would not only consume extra time but would be objectionable because during the laying and taring of the paper the mouth of the drain would be laid open to the entrance of splashed tar particles, dirt and refuse. The cement floor and tile floor are then laid and the plumber who app-lies the finished plumbing on the job removes the screw 24 and the plate 23 together with the test plug 26 and applies the conventional cover plate 41, see Fig. 4, to the drain section 22 by means of the screws 5 made accessible in the manner shown in Fig. 2,

It is to be understood that, at sometime during the interval before or after laying the tar and cement, the job will be tested for leaks. It is optional with the plumber to use either type of test plug of the two which have been described.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the subject matter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A sub-drainer fitting comprising a tubular central portion having a radial iiange extending therearound to collect moisture, said tubular portion having an internal annular channel occupying the space surrounded by said ange, said tubular portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced external lugs upstanding from the inner portion of said ange, there being through the basal portion of each of said lugs, a drainage passage which leads into said annual channel, said radial ilange being adapted to support a layer of liquid impervious material, an annular clamping plate to cover said layer when the latter is superimposed upon said flange in an outwardly spaced relation to said tubular portion, and means to clamp said plate down upon the inner edge portion of said layer with the inner periphery of said plate in a contacting relation to the outer sides of said lugs, whereby to protect said openings from iioor material applied above said layer, said tubular portion being internally screw threaded to have pipe sections screwed into it above and below the aforesaid internal channel thereof.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 and, said annular plate being formed in sections.

3. The subject matter of claim 1 and, said annular plate being formed in sections which have meeting end edges oppositely beveled thereby providing between them drainage passages.

4. In a floor drain structure, a sub-drainer ntting having a tubular portion which is internally screw threaded except for .a smooth internal channel which extends around the inner periphery of said tubular portion in a spaced relation to the ends thereof, the internal diameter of said tubular portion being greater at one side of said channel than at the opposite side thereof, said fitting having a radial fiange that surrounds its said tubular portion substantially opposite to the juncture of said channel with the portion ofthe tubular part which is of less internal diameter, there being a circumferential series of external spaced lugs surrounding the part of the tubular portion of the fitting that is of greater internal diameter and there also being liquid drainage passages leading through said lugs and into said channel, an annulus of such internal diameter as to t around said series of lugs in a contacting relation to them, said annulus being interiorly beveled to form when applied a cement and refuse guard for said drainage passages, and means to secure said annulus in an applied position wherein it serves to hold tar paper or the like in a clamped down relation to that face of the aforesaid iange portion of the fitting from which the tubular part of greater internal diameter projects.

5. As an article of manufacture, a pair of twin at plates each forming a semi-circular segment of an annulus, each of said plates having its end edges beveled in respect to the thickness of the plate, the bevel at one end of each plate being inclined oppositely to that at the opposite end thereof, whereby when said p-lat-es are assembled to form a complete annulus a channel triangular in cross section is formed between abutting plate ends, said plates having apertures through them to receive attaching means.

6. The subject matter of claim 5 and, the apertures of one plate corresponding in their positions to the positions of the apertures of the other plate to provide for reversibility of the positions of the attached plates.

'7. In a door drain structure, a sub-drainer fitting having an internally screw threaded tubular portion one end portion of which is of greater internal diameter than the other, the inner part of said portion of greater diameter having a smooth internal circumferential channel which adjoins the threads or the portion of lesser internal diameter, said fitting having a radial flange that surrounds its tubular portion approximately opposite to said channel, there being a circumferential series of external spaced lugs surrounding the inner part of said tubular portion of greater diameter, there also being liquid drainage passages leading through said lugs and into said channel, the aforesaid tubular portion which is of lesser internal diameter having, in a spaced relation to its ends, a smooth internal circumferential channel, a nipple screwed into the outer part of the threaded section which is divided off by the last recited channel, and a test plug insertable into the fitting oppositely to said nipple and screwable into the inner part of the tubular portion which is of lesser internal diameter.

8. The subject matter of claim 7 and, a nipple screwed into the outer part of the aforesaid tubular section which is of greater internal diameter, a drainage outlet construction which includes a floor` drain recess screwed into said nipple, said plug including a shank having a screwthreaded bore in its upper end, a temporary cover plate for said recess having a central hole through it, and an attaching screw for said cover plate extending through said hole and screwed into said bore, said cover plate being imperforate eX- cept for said central hole.

9. A sub-drainer tting comprising a tubular portion having a radial flange extending therearound to collect moisture, said tubular portion having an internal annular channel intermediate its ends, said tubular portion above and below said internal channel being of lesser diameter than that of said annular channel and screwthreaded to have pipe sections screwed thereinto, said pipe sections whenr screwed into place Within the threaded sections of said tubular p0rticn having their external threads located in a radially inwardly spaced relation to the peripheral Wall of said annular channel whereby to unobstruct moisture through said vpassages even when said pipe sections occupy a portion of the space Within said annular channel, said tubular portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced external lugs upstanding from the inner portion of said flange, there being through the vbasal portion of each of said lugs a drainage passage which leads into said annular channel, said radial flange being adapted to support a layer of liquid impervious material, an annular clamping plate to cover said layer when the latter is superimposed upon said flange in an out- Wardly spaced relation to said tubular portion, and means to clamp said circular plate down upon the inner edge portion of said layer with the inner periphery in a contacting relation to the outer sides of said lugs whereby to protect said openings from oor material applied above said layer.

BENNETT SVIRSKY. 

